Absolutely gutted by this. I can't help but feel there were some improprieties on Qatar's part here. Not knowing too much about the country, it wouldn't appear too feasible to hold such an event there.

I can't help but feel there were some improprieties on Qatar's part here.

You mean the fact that their bid was a set of solid gold letters arranged to spell out "PLENTY MORE WHERE THIS CAME FROM"? (h/t The Bugle.) It's farcical, everyone knows it's farcical, and I'd give it a few months for the dust to settle then place a nice bet that it ends up somewhere else.

"A middle-eastern nation has never hosted the World Cup" - but does it make sense to award the hosting to a country with a population of 1.6m whose capital city has 2 airports with a total of 3 runways where alcohol is at best tolerated (and that's being generous)? In its defense, it is a central location to both Europe, Asia, and Africa.

I am very pleased to be hosting the 2022 World Cup. Not sure how to accommodate the crowds, though. Guess I'll have to clean the guest room.

(For the record, I am not actually from Qatar and have never been there, but "Qatar" or "The Qatarian" -- I know the proper term is "Qatari", but whatever -- has been my cyber-alias since I came online. This has been a fun joke for me today for those who have known me long enough.)

Qatar is also a Middle Eastern country that isn't especially controversial (beyond the fact that its now chosen as the site for the 2022 World Cup), so if you're determined to have the cup hosted in the Middle East, you could make a far more politically controversial choice.

Also, with the direction world economics seem to be headed, if I were an international body, I'd want to be courting Middle Eastern viewers and participants over North Americans, too.

Qatar is just around the horn from Yemen, so AQAP can readily slink over and do their deadly deeds with the whole world watching.

Just like what was going to happen in South Africa.
And Salt Lake City.
And Vancouver.
And Turin.
And every other major world sporting event since 2001.

Nothing says "You win!" more than cowering in terror all the time.

Qatar is going to be making this a "Arab nations" World Cup, so I have to assume that all of the nations will make it in their best interest to have a successful World Cup. If something untoward does happen, I imagine that the support for Al-Qaida (public and private) will take a pretty big hit.

Grum: Well said. This constant terrorism bullshit is so stupid. I grew up with my country routinely being blown up by the IRA. Perhaps that gives me a more sane and sensible perspective.

The problem is, like Formula One, the Middle East is the billionaries playground now. They'd rather play in the sun than a wet track in France. Who gives a shit if the racing is garbage, there's money to be made.

Same with FIFA. I mean imagine the kickbacks FIFA will get from such a rich country?

This reminds me of a segment on TV Nation, the old Michael Moore show.

In the 90s, the British government declared that they will leave the Falklands if that is the wish of the islanders. The Argentinian government promised to give each and every citizen of the Falklands $1,000,000 if they will vote to become part of Argentina and give up their British citizenship, but they still voted to stay part of the British Empire or whatever.

TV Nation went to a town in Wales with a similar population of the Falklands, and found that the residents were willing to renounce their British citizenship and become part of Argentina for $1,000,000 each.

Spot on, Owlie. Not to mention that air conditioning the stadiums does nothing for the time spent out of doors otherwise, such as, oh, TRAINING FOR THE PLAYERS. Maybe they will just dome over the whole 30km radius to control the temps?